Group Project: Indigenous Peoples of North America You will read “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie. “Junior is a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian reservation. Born with a variety of medical problems, he is picked on by everyone but his best friend. Determined to receive a good education, Junior leaves the rez to attend an all-white school in the neighboring farm town where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Despite being condemned as a traitor to his people and enduring great tragedies, Junior attacks life with wit and humor and discovers strength inside of himself that he never knew existed. Written with raw emotion by acclaimed writer Sherman Alexie, the National Book Award-winning novel THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one unlucky boy trying to rise above the life everyone expects him to live.” SOURCE: www.teenreads.com Your Task: In groups, you will research and create an online presentation about one of the Indigenous Peoples of North America, its history and current issues. 1. Choose one of the peoples, its history and current issues. 2. Develop a research question. 3. Create an online presentation using VoiceThread (http://voicethread.com/#) 4. Submit a bibliography formatted in MLA style. You will be placed in your color groups. Each group member will help gather information; groups will be given class time to discuss gathered information and create a presentation.
Seeking Information: You need to determine all possible sources and select the best ones. In order to start your search, you must define a research question and keywords related to your topic. The keywords can be used to search in any source available, from Google to an index of a book. Some examples of keywords related to this topic are: · “Indigenous peoples” (use quotation when searching for a term with more than one word) · “Native American” · Reservations AND “Native American” You might want to focus on the influence of the North American Indians in the U.S. and the World (art, culture, traditions, religion, language, literature); or contemporary issues such as UN Rights exclusion, discrimination and racism, conflicts, gambling industry.
Locating and using information: Possible sources available on the Library Website: WorldBook Advanced(Online Encyclopedia) ABC-CLIO(Humanities online database) EBSCOhost(Articles from hundreds of magazines and newspapers. Good for current events!) Books in the library(search the online catalog) – you will find some book on the topic call on the non-fiction section, call number 970-973.
Communicating your findings: Create a presentation using VoiceThread (http://voicethread.com/#). Some class time will be given to work with VoiceThread. If you are new to VoiceThread, see its tutorial before starting the presentation. Each presentation should be comprehensive, well thought out and researched, covering the topic in full, all the while trying to be concise as possible. You will need to include a visual aid. Presentations should be five to seven minutes in length.
Evaluating: You will be assessed on the research process and the presentation, with the criteria outlined in this rubric.
CATEGORY
10 9
8 7
6 5
4 3
2 1
Content and Knowledge
In depth understanding of the topic Uses clear and relevant examples
Thorough understanding of the topic Uses relevant examples
Satisfactory knowledge of the topic Uses some relevant examples
Some knowledge of the topic but needs additional research Uses some appropriate examples
Limited or inaccurate knowledge of the topic Insufficient research of the topic
Ideas/Research Question
Students independently identity at least 4 reasonable insightful, creative ideas/questions to pursue when doing the research.
Students independently identify at least 4 reasonable ideas /questions to pursue when doing the research.
Students identify, with some help, at least 4 reasonable ideas/questions to pursue when doing the research.
Students identify, with considerable adult help, 4 reasonable ideas/questions to pursue when doing research.
Students identify less than 4 reasonable ideas/questions to pursue when doing research.
Quality of Sources
Students independently locate at least 2 reliable, interesting information sources for EACH of their ideas or questions.
Students independently locate at least 2 reliable information sources for EACH of their ideas or questions.
Students, with some adult help, locate at least 2 reliable information sources for EACH of their ideas or questions.
Students, with extensive adult help, locate at least 2 reliable information sources for EACH of their ideas or questions.
Students locate less than 2 reliable information sources for EACH of their ideas or questions.
Organization
Presentation is logically ordered and clearly states the intent and addresses the main points in a compelling manner. Audience is left with a new insight into the subject matter.
Presentation is ordered with supporting examples. The topic is clearly presented so that the audience is left with a better understanding of the topic.
Presentation maintains some logical order and remains focused on the main topic.
Sequencing is not appropriate, and some examples are irrelevant or not appropriate. Presentation does not clearly state the main points though one can identify a topic.
No logical order of information or few supporting examples Presentation does not address the main points.
Language
Sophisticated and varied vocabulary
Uses appropriate grammar. Few errors. Vocabulary is interesting and varied
Appropriate grammar Some errors. Vocabulary is somewhat varied and interesting
Some noticeable errors in grammar Limited vocabulary
Some noticeable errors in grammar Very limited vocabulary
Group Project: Indigenous Peoples of North America
You will read “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie.
“Junior is a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian reservation. Born with a variety of medical problems, he is picked on by everyone but his best friend. Determined to receive a good education, Junior leaves the rez to attend an all-white school in the neighboring farm town where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Despite being condemned as a traitor to his people and enduring great tragedies, Junior attacks life with wit and humor and discovers strength inside of himself that he never knew existed.
Written with raw emotion by acclaimed writer Sherman Alexie, the National Book Award-winning novel THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one unlucky boy trying to rise above the life everyone expects him to live.”
SOURCE: www.teenreads.com
Your Task:
In groups, you will research and create an online presentation about one of the Indigenous Peoples of North America, its history and current issues.
1. Choose one of the peoples, its history and current issues.
2. Develop a research question.
3. Create an online presentation using VoiceThread (http://voicethread.com/#)
4. Submit a bibliography formatted in MLA style.
You will be placed in your color groups. Each group member will help gather information; groups will be given class time to discuss gathered information and create a presentation.
Seeking Information:
You need to determine all possible sources and select the best ones. In order to start your search, you must define a research question and keywords related to your topic. The keywords can be used to search in any source available, from Google to an index of a book. Some examples of keywords related to this topic are:
· “Indigenous peoples” (use quotation when searching for a term with more than one word)
· “Native American”
· Reservations AND “Native American”
You might want to focus on the influence of the North American Indians in the U.S. and the World (art, culture, traditions, religion, language, literature); or contemporary issues such as UN Rights exclusion, discrimination and racism, conflicts, gambling industry.
Locating and using information:
Possible sources available on the Library Website:
WorldBook Advanced (Online Encyclopedia)
ABC-CLIO (Humanities online database)
EBSCOhost (Articles from hundreds of magazines and newspapers. Good for current events!)
Books in the library (search the online catalog) – you will find some book on the topic call on the non-fiction section, call number 970-973.
Communicating your findings:
Create a presentation using VoiceThread (http://voicethread.com/#). Some class time will be given to work with VoiceThread. If you are new to VoiceThread, see its tutorial before starting the presentation.
Each presentation should be comprehensive, well thought out and researched, covering the topic in full, all the while trying to be concise as possible. You will need to include a visual aid. Presentations should be five to seven minutes in length.
Evaluating:
You will be assessed on the research process and the presentation, with the criteria outlined in this rubric.